Sacred Rock of Hunza

Sacred Rock of Hunza

Location	Hunza Valley, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
Coordinates	74°4′N 36°3′E / 74.067°N 36.050°E / 74.067; 36.050
Area	Gilgit-Baltistan
Formed	1st Millennium AD
Restored by	Government of Pakistan
Owner	Commissioner of Northern Areas, Director of Archaeology, Government of Pakistan

The Sacred Rock of Hunza is carved rock as well as a cultural heritage site in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. The carvings on the rock dates back to the 1st Millennium AD. The rock is on a top of a hill which lies in east to the Hunza River. The site is very near to the town of Karimabad. The rock is divided into two parts, once there used to be some Buddhist shelter caves which fell over time. The rock is one of the major tourist attractions in Gilgit-Baltistan.^[1]

Location

Haldeikish The sacred rock is located in place called Haldeikish near to the small town of Karimabad in Hunza Valley. The site is on top of a Hill which is at the left bank of the river Hunza.^[1] The rock is 30 feet high and 200 yards long. It is easily accessible from the Karakoram Highway which connects Pakistan with China. It is an isolated rock which is further divided into two portions.

Specifications

The Sacred Rock is divided into two portions, an upper portion and a lower one. Both the portions carry carvings on them which are basically inscriptions and images from Pre-Historic era. There used to be many Buddhist shelter caves in ancient times which later collapsed or fell over the time.^[2]

Upper Portion

The upper portion of the rock consist of inscriptions which are carved in Sogdian, Kharosthi, Brahmi, Sarada and Proto Sarada languages. The names of the Emperors of the Kushana Empire appear in these inscriptions as well as the names of other Emperors from the Empires of Kanishka and Huvishka. The name of the Trukha King Ramadusa is also mentioned in inscriptions which are carved in Brahmi language.^[1]

Lower Portion

The lower portion is engraved by the images of Ibexes. These ibexes are shown in different situations, including being hunted. The carvings also contain Horned-Human deities playing with the ibexes. The carvings of the Ibexes are a proof of the ibex being an animal which holds cultural importance to Buddhists as well as to the region in ancient times. One of the carvings also shows the image of an ancient Chinese King. Some carvings show a Tibetan styled Stupa.^[1]

Preservation

The Sacred Rock of Hunza is a Cultural Heritage Site of Pakistan and is currently well preserved but still some the carvings carrying inscriptions are effected due to aging. There were many Buddhist shelter caves which fell over time and no more exist. Commissioner of Northern Areas of Pakistan and Director of Archaeology are responsible for the preservation of the site, both acting under the Government of Pakistan. Due to recent flooding in Hunza River the site faces extreme danger in future.^[1]

References

1 2 3 4 5 "UNESDoc (UNESCO)" (PDF). unesdoc.unesco.org. Retrieved 2014-07-05.
↑ http://www.lonelyplanet.com/pakistan/karakoram-highway/ganish/sights/historic/sacred-rocks-hunza

Baltistan

Passes	Karakoram Pass Gyong La Gondogoro Pass Bilafond La

Valleys	Skardu Valley Khaplu Valley Kharmang Shigar Valley Roundu Baltistan Galtari

Cities and towns	Skardu Kargil Shigar Khaplu Kharmang Roundu Baltistan Balghar Barah valley Chalunka Chorbat Valley Ghawari Haldi, Baltistan Hassanabad, Pakistan Hushe Valley Keris Valley Khane Kharfak Korphe Yugo, Baltistan Yugupa

Rivers, glaciers and lakes	Baltoro Glacier Biafo Glacier Siachen Glacier Bilafond Glacier Godwin-Austen Glacier Trango Glacier Lake Kharfak Satpara Lake Shangrila Lake Shigar River Shyok River Indus Hushe River Saltoro River

Architecture	Chaqchan Mosque Khanaq-e-Mullah Noorbakshia Khaplu Bala Khaplu Palace Shigar Fort Skardu Fort Baltit Fort Amburik Mosque

See also	Karakoram Highway Ladakh Line of Control Kargil War Balti language History of Gilgit-Baltistan K2 Balti (food)

Museums in Pakistan

Archaeological and historical	Archaeological Museum of Balochistan Bahawalpur Museum Bhit Shah Museum Chakdara Museum Chitral Museum Harappa Museum Lahore Museum Lyallpur Museum Mardan Museum Moenjodaro Museum Multan Museum National Museum of Pakistan Peshawar Museum Saidu Sharif Museum Sindh Museum State Bank of Pakistan Museum Taxila Museum Umerkot Museum

Archives	Citizen's Archive of Pakistan National Archives of Pakistan Punjab Archives Sindh Archives

Art Galleries	Abasin Arts Council Alhamra Arts Council Balochistan Arts Council Faisalabad Arts Council Fakir Khana Mohatta Palace Multan Arts Council National Art Gallery Pakistan Arts Council Rawalpindi Arts Council

Biographical	Chugtai Museum Iqbal Manzil Quaid-e-Azam House Shair Ali Museum Wazir Mansion

Heritage	Khaplu Palace Lok Virsa Museum

Military	Command and Staff College Museum Pakistan Army Museum PAF Museum Pakistan Maritime Museum

Natural history	Pakistan Forest Museum Pakistan Museum of Natural History Quetta Geological Museum

Science	National Museum of Science and Technology

Transport	Golra Sharif Railway Museum

Category List Commons

List of cultural heritage sites in Gilgit-Baltistan

Forts	Khaplu Palace Baltit Fort Shigar Fort Skardu Fort Altit Fort

Tourist attractions	Chaqchan Mosque Amburik Mosque

Archaeological sites	Sacred Rock of Hunza Noorpur Stupas Alam Bridge inscriptions Mughal Minar Kargah Buddha Manthal Buddha Rock Danyore Rock Inscriptions

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